Basics of punctuation. 45 questions on comma rules (lists, coordinating conjunctions, introductory phrases), apostrophes for possession and contraction, and basic sentence-end punctuation.
What this test covers
- Comma Rules: Lists, Conjunctions, and Introductory Phrases
- Apostrophes: Possession and Contraction
- Full Stops, Question Marks, and Exclamation Marks
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. I need milk, bread, and eggs.
When you list three or more things, use a comma after each item except the last one. Many people also put a comma before 'and' in a list. For example: 'I bought apples, pears, and bananas.' Without commas, like in 'milk bread and eggs', the words run together.
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Q2Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. He went to the cafe and ordered coffee.
If one person does two things, you do not need a comma before 'and'. In this sentence, 'he' did both actions: went and ordered. Adding a comma like in 'cafe, and ordered' is unnecessary because the second part is not a new, complete sentence.
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Q3Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. In the early hours of the morning, I like to drink tea.
When a sentence opens with a long introductory phrase — here, 'In the early hours of the morning' — a comma is needed to mark where the introduction ends and the main part of the sentence begins. Without it, the long phrase runs straight into the rest of the sentence and it becomes harder to read at a glance.
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Q4Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. Although it was late, we finished the work.
When a sentence starts with words like 'Although', 'If', or 'Because', we put a comma after that first part. This separates the reason from the main action. In 'Although it was late, we finished the work', the comma clearly shows where the introduction ends.
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Q5Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: A. I went to the store, and my sister waited in the car.
When you join two complete sentences with 'and', 'but', or 'so', put a comma before that word. Here, 'I went to the store' and 'my sister waited' are both full sentences, so 'store, and' is the correct way to join them.
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Q6Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: A. It was a long, hot, tiring day.
When you use several adjectives to describe one thing (like the 'day'), separate them with commas. It is just like making a list of descriptions. 'It was a long, hot, tiring day' is correct because every description has a comma.
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Q7Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. However, the store was closed.
Words like 'However', 'First', or 'Finally' at the start of a sentence need a comma. It tells the reader to pause for a moment before reading the main message.
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Q8Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. She said that the movie was good.
In English, we do not put a comma before the word 'that' when reporting what someone said. The sentence should flow smoothly without a break.
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Q9Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. We visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and London, England.
Usually, we use commas for lists. But if the items in the list already have commas inside them (like 'Paris, France'), we use semicolons (;) to separate the main groups. This helps the reader see the different cities clearly.
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Q10Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: A. My brother, a talented chef, works at the bank.
When you add extra information about a person in the middle of a sentence, put commas on both sides. In this sentence, 'a talented chef' is extra information about 'my brother', so we put a comma before and after it.
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Q11Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: A. I felt ill; I went to bed.
You can join two related sentences with a semicolon (;) instead of a full stop. It shows the two thoughts are closely connected. Using only a comma like in 'I felt ill, I went to bed' is a common mistake.
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Q12Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. I need three things: milk, bread, and eggs.
Use a colon (:) after a complete sentence to introduce a list. It acts like an arrow pointing to the items coming next. Example: 'I have two hobbies: reading and swimming.'
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Q13Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. There is only one solution: hard work.
A colon (:) can be used to introduce a specific answer or explanation at the end of a sentence. It focuses the reader's attention on 'hard work' as the one solution.
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Q14Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. The results—if they are accurate—are surprising.
Use dashes (—) to set off a sudden interruption or extra thought in the middle of a sentence. You need one dash at the start and one at the end of the extra part, like '—if they are accurate—'.
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Q15Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. He had one goal: to win.
Use a colon (:) to point specifically to what the 'one goal' is. It connects the idea (the goal) to the specific result (to win).
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Q16Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. The cat's tail is long.
To show that something belongs to one person or animal, use 's. Here, the tail belongs to one cat, so we write 'cat's'.
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Q17Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. The students' grades were excellent.
When a plural word already ends in 's' (like 'students'), just add an apostrophe (') at the very end to show ownership. You do not need an extra 's' after the apostrophe.
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Q18Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. The children's toys are in the box.
If a plural word does NOT end in 's' (like 'children' or 'men'), use 's to show ownership. 'Children's' is correct. The word 'childrens'' is not a real English form.
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Q19Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. The bird flapped its wings.
'Its' (without an apostrophe) means 'belonging to it'. We only use 'it's' when we mean 'it is' or 'it has'. Since the wings belong to the bird, 'its' is correct.
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Q20Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. It's a very sunny day today.
Use 'it's' with an apostrophe when you mean 'it is'. For example: 'It is a sunny day' can be shortened to 'It's a sunny day'.
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Q21Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. Many tourists visit the city museum.
When you are talking about more than one thing (a plural), you just add 's'. Do not use an apostrophe unless something belongs to the tourists. Here, they are just visiting.
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Q22Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. Maria's house is nearby.
To show that the house belongs to Maria, add 's to her name. Writing 'Marias' with no apostrophe means there are many people named Maria.
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Q23Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: A. The men's room is down the hall.
The word 'men' is already plural. To show ownership for plural words that don't end in 's', we always add 's. So, 'men's' is the correct spelling.
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Q24Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. You're going to be late.
'You're' is short for 'you are'. We use it for actions (like 'you are going'). 'Your' is only for things you own, such as 'your book' or 'your house'.
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Q25Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. They're going to the beach.
'They're' is the short way to write 'they are'. The apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter 'a'.
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Q26Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. The oranges are on the kitchen table.
The word 'oranges' is just a simple plural (more than one orange). You don't need an apostrophe because the oranges don't own anything.
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Q27All the managers in the department are attending together. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. The managers' meeting is at noon.
Since the meeting belongs to several managers, the word 'managers' is already plural. When a plural word already ends in 's', just add an apostrophe after it: 'managers''. Writing 'manager's' would mean the meeting belongs to only one manager, which does not match this situation.
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Q28Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. She's my best friend.
'She's' is the short way to write 'she is'. Always place the apostrophe exactly where the missing letter 'i' used to be.
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Q29Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. Their car is parked outside.
'Their' shows that something belongs to them (like 'their car'). It never uses an apostrophe. 'They're' is different—it means 'they are'.
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Q30Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. I bought some new shoes yesterday.
You are talking about more than one shoe. This is a simple plural, so just add 's'. You do not need an apostrophe here.
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Q31Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. I like to read books.
Use a full stop (.) at the end of a normal statement. A question mark (?) is only for questions, and an exclamation mark (!) is for strong feelings or shouting.
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Q32Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. Where do you live?
When you ask a direct question that needs an answer, always end the sentence with a question mark (?).
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Q33Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. I asked if he was hungry.
Even though this sentence is about a question, the sentence itself is just telling us a fact. This is an 'indirect question', so it ends with a simple full stop.
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Q34Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. What a surprise!
Use an exclamation mark (!) when you want to show excitement, surprise, or strong emotion.
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Q35Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. He asked me why I was late.
This is a statement about a question. Because you are reporting the question rather than asking it directly, use a full stop at the end.
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Q36Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. The train arrives at five.
This is a simple fact or statement. Use a full stop to show the sentence is finished.
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Q37Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. Are you coming to the party?
This sentence is asking for information, so it must end with a question mark (?).
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Q38Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. Watch out for the car!
Use an exclamation mark (!) for warnings or when you need to shout something important to get someone's attention.
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Q39Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. I wonder where she went.
Sentences starting with 'I wonder' are actually statements of your thoughts. They are not direct questions, so use a full stop at the end.
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Q40Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. She asked if I was ready.
This is a report of a question. It does not need a comma before 'if' and it ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
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Q41Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: B. The room is very quiet.
This is a basic description or statement. A full stop is the correct way to end a normal sentence.
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Q42Which sentence uses the correct punctuation mark to show strong excitement?
Answer: C. I am so happy!
To show strong excitement or emotion, use an exclamation mark (!) at the end of the sentence. A full stop makes it a neutral statement, a question mark turns it into a question, and a comma cannot end a sentence.
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Q43Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: D. She wants to know when we arrive.
The main part of the sentence is 'She wants to know'. This is a statement about her desire for information, so it ends with a full stop.
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Q44Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. Did you enjoy the coffee?
This sentence starts with 'Did', which shows a question is being asked. Always use a question mark (?) at the end.
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Q45Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Answer: C. I don't know who he is.
This is a statement about something you do not know. It is not asking a question directly, so use a full stop at the end.
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